I adored playing checkers growing up, and I thought that a vocabulary version would be fun and easy to play, as well as a great review for students.
To play this vocabulary game, gather up your spare change, colored dots, old checker pieces, or other small pieces in two colors (old Lego sets, anyone?) and print out enough Vocabulary Checkers game boards for your class.
Have each student fill out a game board with a different vocabulary word in each shaded square. Students pair up and take turns playing on each other’s boards. When students want to make a move, they have to say a sentence using the vocabulary word on the space to which they want to move. Students who do not use the vocabulary word correctly in the sentence do not get to move.
Likewise, if a player wants to “double jump,” she or he must use both vocabulary words in the same sentence. If one or both of the words is used incorrectly, the move cannot be made at all. All other checker rules apply.
Let me know if this game works in your classroom and if you have any fun rules or variations of the vocabulary game for us to try!